Van der Merwe

In every country there is a person who is the butt of all jokes. In Ireland it is Paddy, in Israel it is Hymie, In South Africa, that person is the iconic character, Van der Merwe. Van is the South Africa’s most-loved mythical character. His cheeky nature, silly antics and earnest attitude make him lovable and laughable all at once. Always in trouble, Van as he is affectionately known by all, is the ultimate under-dog. He is someone we can all relate to. Someone we can all laugh at.

The film tells the story of bumbling farmer Van der Merwe, as he struggles to keep his family together when his daughter brings her British fiancé home to the farm. Van’s faithfully traditional father is strongly opposed to the union and instructs him to bring an end to it.

When the family of the British fiancé arrives on the farm the tension rises as the clash of cultures results in a number of awkward situations and we witness some classic ‘Van der Merwe jokes’ played out in front of our eyes.